President hails growing trade ties, friendship with Germany on visit

Update:
November, 26/2015 - 08:59

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President Truong Tan Sang and German President Joachim Gauck inspect the guard of honour yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang

BERLIN (VNS) — President Truong Tan Sang and his Germany counterpart Joachim Gauck expressed pleasure at the rapid development of the Viet Nam-Germany strategic partnership at their talks yesterday in Berlin.

The two State leaders agreed that the countries have become not only strategic partners but close friends. They stressed the need to strengthen visit exchanges and implement bilateral cooperative mechanisms to create new momentum for a stronger strategic partnership in the time ahead.

Host and guest said they were delighted with the progress in bilateral trade and investment ties.

President Truong Tan Sang confirmed that Germany is currently one of the leading partners of Viet Nam in Europe in various fields such as trade, science - technology, development cooperation, environment, law, education and vocational training. Within 5 years, bilateral trade has doubled, from US$4.1 billion in 2010 to $7.8 billion in 2014; German investment in Viet Nam has increased over 70 per cent, from $824 million in 2010 to $1.4 billion currently.

The two noted with satisfaction that the cooperation in the field of trade and investment between the two countries continues to make positive progress.

Both nations are enjoying favorable conditions to boost bilateral and trade cooperation to lift two-way trade to between $15 billion and $20 billion by 2020 and German investment in Viet Nam to $5 billion as soon as possible.

They concurred to maintain Germany's top place among Viet Nam's economic partners, especially when the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is to be signed soon and offer the best possible conditions for their enterprises to promote closer cooperation.

President Sang thanked the German government for maintaining supply development aid to Viet Nam for many years, contributing significantly to the achievement of poverty reduction and economic development. He also applauded the host's continuing support for Viet Nam in the period 2015 to 2017, focusing on energy, environment and vocational training.

The two leaders were also pleased by the fruitful cooperation between the two countries in the field of education, science and technology. President Sang and President Joachim agreed that both countries will continue to cooperate closely in these fields.

For his part, President Gauck said he highly appreciated the contribution of the Vietnamese community in Germany to the prosperity of Germany.

The two leaders praised the bilateral cooperation at multilateral forums and compared notes on the increasing activities of artificial island construction which damages stability, peace, security and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

The German President underscored the importance to settle disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means in line with international law.

At a news conference after the talks, the two presidents had informed local and world press of the highlights agreed by the two leaders.

Earlier the same day, Sang also met with Berlin Mayor Michael Muller and German National Assembly's Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group with ASEAN.

Earlier meetings

President Truong Tan Sang meets with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Germany, briefing them on the current socio-economic situation in Viet Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang

On Tuesday, President Sang met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Germany, briefing them on the current socio-economic situation in Viet Nam.

The leader highlighted Viet Nam's major achievements after 30 years of renewal, saying the country has posted an annual growth rate of 6 percent and the economy is moving towards industrialisation and modernisation.

Hailing the overseas Vietnamese's contributions to the homeland, President Sang reiterated that the Vietnamese community abroad is an integral part of the nation.

The Vietnamese Party and State protect the interests of overseas Vietnamese, the leader said, noting his hope that the Vietnamese in Germany will support each other and preserve traditional culture.

Representatives of the Vietnamese community in Germany expressed their hope that the Party and State will assist them integrate into the host society.

The President later met with German friends during which he recalled the day the late President Ho Chi Minh laid the foundation for the friendship between the two nations.

He thanked the German friends for their support for Viet Nam during the struggle for liberation, saying Germany's assistance in personnel training had created an important basis for the friendship. — VNS